Westwood Community Council Re-elects Board, Hears Metro Update

The Westwood Community Council re-elected its board members and heard from a Metro representative about the upcoming extended ramp closures at Wilshire Boulevard and the 405 freeway in its monthly meeting Tuesday night.

The council also in Westwood Village, and to support alcohol sales at the recently opened . To read more about those decisions, .

Kasey Shuda, a Metro representative, updated the council on the 405 freeway project, that would involve closing various on- and off-ramps for up to 90 days at a time over the next year and a half to two years.

"They have to build eight new bridges," Shuda explained. "We're using the same contractors as Carmageddon so maybe they'll get out of there sooner."

Nonetheless, Shuda said, traffic is going to be difficult for an extended period of time and Metro is working with local businesses to encourage ride sharing and other mitigation efforts.

"Our key message is to allow extra time," Shuda said, noting that Metro can't redirect drivers through several neighborhoods.  "There are not a lot of alternatives."

As Carole Magnuson presented the slate of board officers to be elected for the year, she noted that it's the same as last year's.

"I take that as meaning everybody's happy with the way things are going so far," she said.